AP Interview: Tokyo Gov. vows to change nation from her city

Photo: AP. Yuriko Koike

October 06, 2017 07:24 PM

TOKYO (AP) — Popular Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, a rumored candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections, says she wants to influence national politics to speed up changes needed in Japan by starting them in her city.

Koike, who became Tokyo's first female leader last year and led her local party to a stunning victory in July city elections, has launched a new national party, the Party of Hope, to challenge Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oct. 22 parliamentary vote.

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Koike told The Associated Press on Friday she wants to use her experience in Tokyo to encourage changes nationally, and is working with like-minded politicians to push for her goals. She says women's advancement and measures for Japan's aging and shrinking population have come too slowly under Abe.

"As Tokyo governor, I want to achieve policies in Tokyo as a model for entire Japan to follow. Why? Because it's faster that way," Koike said in an interview at the office of her local party, Tomin First no Kai, wearing a scarf with a blue-and-white Tokyo 2020 Olympics motif. "Everything takes too long in national politics."

She didn't make clear whether she plans to run for parliament or is seeking the prime ministership.

Koike worked with Abe as a former lawmaker in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for 15 years. She served in key Cabinet and ruling party posts, including defense minister and environment minister, before becoming the leader of Japan's capital in July 2016. A TV newscaster-turned-politician, Koike is stylish and media savvy.

As Tokyo governor, she has advocated administrative reforms, reviewed plans for costly venues for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to reduce city spending, suspended the divisive relocation of a famed fish market over safety concerns, and halved her salary.

Koike, however, has faced accusations from some that she hasn't actually achieved much, and running for parliament now would expose her to criticism that she is abandoning Tokyo before her work is done.

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